“Bah, Humbug!”

No, I wasn’t watching one of the many versions of A Christmas Carol when I heard this phrase most recently uttered.

I was standing in my front yard watching my husband begin the age-old struggle of putting up Christmas lights on our house, which in our neighborhood, has become a competitive sport of sorts. 

Truly, I am convinced there is nothing more frustrating than kicking off the holiday season with the best of intentions to create a cheery exterior to your home only to find that half of the strings of lights you purchased last season don’t work no matter how carefully you think you put them away.

I’ve turned to the Library for four ways to decrease my husband’s stress and make him feel better about the annual “Debacle of the Lights” before sending him up on the roof to make the final touches:

1. I downloaded five soothing selections from A Pentatonix Christmas onto his iPod for free. He can listen to them again next year when the whole process starts again! 
2. I placed a hold on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Reliving Clark Griswold’s struggles will make him feel better.
3. I’ve checked out New York Christmas, a new cookbook with 50 recipes inspired by ice-skating around the iconic tree at Rockefeller Center—the cheesecake will be a wonderful reward for all of his hard work! 
4. I’ve started a box with burned-out Christmas lights to take to the North Independence Branch for donation to Southeast Enterprises right after the holidays, which is already half full.

Do you need a little inspiration to get ready for the holidays? 

Mary A.
Marketing & Communications